Some Thoughts on how to Shoot This (50mm, process, camera)

[Alpha8207]

Hey everybody,

Wonder if I might get some 'off the cuff' advice from you guys.

About 3 miles from my home, there's a very large farm with some beautiful silos and grainery equipment.

The farmer has put this HUGE lighted cross on the top of the highest bin and it casts the most amazing glow over the farm at night.

However, as I set out last night to try and capture the ambiance of the farm, I failed miserable.

Here's a pic I took.

ISO: 100
Shutter: 15s
F/stop: 13
Focal length: 50mm



I'm thinking of going back tonight(weather permitting) and trying the same shot but at a higher ISO.

I wanted to sharpness of ISO 100 but I think I went too far. I didn't catch the 'glow'.

Any thoughts?

[Alpha8207]

Here's the same shot as processed by the camera.

On the OP that was a cropped RAW.

Here's the cam's JPG:

[TriumphOfTheSprint]

I think that would be a good candidate for an HDR shot.

[Head coach]

Originally Posted by Alpha8207

Here's a pic I took.

ISO: 100
Shutter: 15s
F/stop: 13
Focal length: 50mm

I would recommend that you increase the time on have the shutter open loner then 15 seconds. I would recomend that you try this around 2 mins and then see what you come up with. In this picture below...



I placed my camera on a rock and held the shutter open for about 50 seconds.

[kdog]

It's underexposed. So any of larger aperture, longer exposure, or higher ISO, or any combination or all of the above will fix it. Didn't you look at the image on your LCD screen after taking the shot? When you finally get a nominal exposure, you will have a big blown-out hot area where the light is. As Triumph indicated, you could bring that down with an HDR, or manual blend of multiple bracketed exposures.

[WFW&P]

............or try increasing the ISO to 400 or higher.

[EinsteinsGhost]

I would recommend opening the aperture, and then decide the exposure time that fits your need, and without going to a higher ISO. The picture in OP has a pretty small aperture (f/13) and is sharpening the lines. Here's a pair of photographs taken from basically same spot (not at the same time), with same ISO setting (minimum, which is 64 in my camera). The difference is in shutter speed and aperture, as noted:
f/8.0, 1s (Sharp lines)


f/5.6, 2.5s (more "glow")


The glow will be more pronounced with larger aperture.

[Alpha8207]

Thanks, everyone.

I didn't get back out there last night, but I am going back until I get this shot right.

I can try a bulb shot(2 minutes etc) but I wonder, how do I keep the brightly lit cross from blowing out?

I definitely want to try a higher ISO and see what happens too, I think I can get a lot more with that.

....and kdog, the more I shoot the more I think the viewfinder on my Rebel Xi is almost useless....I shot some lightening pics that looked ok on the viewfinder but were CRAP actually.

[Alpha8207]

Originally Posted by EinsteinsGhost

I would recommend opening the aperture, and then decide the exposure time that fits your need, and without going to a higher ISO. The picture in OP has a pretty small aperture (f/13) and is sharpening the lines. Here's a pair of photographs taken from basically same spot (not at the same time), with same ISO setting (minimum, which is 64 in my camera). The difference is in shutter speed and aperture, as noted:
f/8.0, 1s (Sharp lines)


f/5.6, 2.5s (more "glow")


The glow will be more pronounced with larger aperture.

Well please remember I am not very experienced at photography.

I lowered the aperture to try and help with focus issues....it's hard to try and determine whether I am in focus or not and I know smaller apertures keep more in focus.

Also, I'll try what you suggest for a close-up of the lit cross, but again, how does one keep the cross from blowing out while you capture the light for the other areas of the photo?

[kdog]

Originally Posted by Alpha8207

Also, I'll try what you suggest for a close-up of the lit cross, but again, how does one keep the cross from blowing out while you capture the light for the other areas of the photo?

Ahem:

Originally Posted by kdog

When you finally get a nominal exposure, you will have a big blown-out hot area where the light is. As Triumph indicated, you could bring that down with an HDR, or manual blend of multiple bracketed exposures.